'Tractosaure'

Steampunks - check out this vehicle - one of the first self-propelled military vehicles, in service in the Crimea in 1856 - photograph here.

More reenactors at the Alma photos

This blog now has a head of steam up - getting on the search engines and so forth - so I thought I'd revisit the subject that started me off with it in the first place - the photos of mostly Russian reenactors in the Crimea. Brilliant work has been going on to reach these high standards. Check out the whole gallery and forum here - there is some excellent reproduction kit on display.

Brits in winter

Idealised picture of British soldiers in the Crimea.

Red kepi

Képi de sous-officier de Cent-Gardes
Fabriqué vers 1852-1870

I don't think the 'N' cypher was usual on French military kepis.

Alma figures Crimean War 54mm

This range of 54mm kits, sculpted by Gary Higgins son of Les, look well worth investigating. I don't think they have a webpage yet but this forum has details of the figures and an email address which I think is AlmaFigures@gmail.com for more information (the company has recently changed hands - the new owner is Michel Mardasson. He says
The range currently includes soldiers of the following armies/troops: - British : Guards, Highanders, Line Infantry, Rifles - French : Zouaves, Light Infantry - Russian : Infantry and Artillery - Turk : Line Infantry Most of the kits come with a variation of heads, equipments, arms... this allows a huge number of variation in the figures. And I have plans to extend the range but its too soon to say more about that. Some of the kits are already available. For the others, I'm in the process of making some new castings made by a renowned company.

Garde Imperiale at Magenta

La Garde impériale à Magenta, le 4 juin 1859

Charpentier Eugène-Louis (1811-1890)

Magenta 1859 - the 150th

Interesting slideshow of images taken at the recent reenactment of this battle in Italy.

Civil War drum calls

Short documentary about the role of the drummer in the armies of the Civil War and demonstrates some of the most common drum calls heard in camp. Civil War drums have a lovely sound and this is a useful format for learning the facts about drummers and drumming.

Gettysburg deleted scene

I know you've all seen this movie but as I am working through my top ten Civil War movies I feel I have to include it. Some great acting and an epic treatment this is a corny but enjoyable look at the battle. Gods and Generals - its follow-up prequel wasn't so good unfortunately. This scene features Sam Elliot doing his cowboy thing as Buford meeting some local citizens. A good scene, but deleted fromt the DVD.

Game of the Grand Redoubt

A couple of wargames posts - this proves there is nothing new about it.

Shiny toy soldiers

These 42mm figures look interesting. Basically a kit with options to choose different head and so forth gives a lot of variation for the 1830-50 period. Website here

40mm figures

I am looking for the ideal range of figures for wargaming this era. Maybe I'll have to have a go and try and sculpt some as there's not much out there I like.
BATTLE of BLAST OFF RIDGE
September 11 1838

This page of photos of a Charge! type game is excellent and shows the sort of Old School thing I'd like to do for the Crimean and environs.

Remembering folly

So if you're not nostalgic for long-lost Imperial days why would you have an interest in the campaigns of the mid-19th century? Well partly it's because these campaigns were folly that makes them interesting - not all wars are fought for noble purposes or any kind of logic - some are fought for that elusive spirit La Gloire - but this doesn't make them any less interesting than the so-called 'just' wars - in fact it's even more reason to read about them.
This image sums up the popular idea that France was on the road to military glory, made for those presumably nostalgic for the days of Napoleon I. Of course all that was going to come crashing down in 1870, but of course at the time this was printed - that was a long way off.

Bersaglieri in the Crimea 1855

I didn't know there was Bersaglieri in the Crimea. They were there under orders of Cavour - they acquired the red fez as an undress headgear in imitation of the Zouaves while there. Fought at the battle at Chernaya River.

This image is painted by British military man George Cadogan who captured quite a bit of the military life of the Crimea in beautiful watercolours. I haven't myself seen it but the book Cadogan's Crimea looks worth tracking down.

1866

There are quite a few videos and slideshows of battles and parades of this war - not surprising as its very camera-friendly. Search for bitwa Hradec Králové 1866 or Chlum and you'll find them. This is one that has a parade of all the participants.

Austro-Prussian War Reenactors

As over on the Waterloo to Mons blog they're getting uptogether Austro-Hungarian troops for wargaming this period I thought maybe a few photos of Austro-Hungarians at recent reenactments at Chlum might be good. All the images are from here where there is much more to impress you if you have an interest in the Austro-Prussian war. I'd really like to go down there to take part or watch this period as it looks well done and very picturesque.

Mme Bourcier

Rather unsurprisingly photographs of French army Cantiniere's often show them to look rather tough and formidable ladies in keeping with the hardships experienced during their work.

Madame Bourcier, cantinière au 3e régiment des grenadiers de la Garde impériale
vers 1865
Carjat Etienne (1828-1906)

Zouaves at the Malakoff

Deatil from Episode du siège de Sébastopol pendant la guerre de Crimée en 1855 - Combat dans la gorge de Malakoff ; charge des voltigeurs et des zouaves conduit par le colonel Douay sous le commandement du général Vinoy, le 8 septembre 1855
Yvon Adolphe (1817-1893)

1er Zouaves before the Malakoff

Mac-Mahon et le Ier zouaves à Malakoff, le 8 septembre 1855
Le général Mac-Mahon donne ses dernières instructions aux compagnies d'assaut du Ier zouaves du colonel Collineau avant la prise de la redoute de Malakoff.
Aillaud Antoine Alphonse (19th century)

Brandtaucher

While on the subject of Steampunk what about this submarine from Germany built around 1850.

Stonewall

Lovely photo of the Confederacy's last Ironclad 'Stonewall' from the wiki article below. This appeals greatly to my Steampunk self.

French weapons in the Civil War

Searching the French 'Napoleon' 12 pounder I came across this wiki page with some excellent images like this one
Canon obusier de campagne de 12 modele 1853 (a 'Napoleon') ( displayed in Les Invalides)

French artillery at Solferino

I don't know whether this is one of the famous 'Napoleons' but it's a great picture.

Belgian Foreign Legion 1865

Legion Belge by Charles Dominique Oscar Lahalle (1832-1909)

I wonder if they're planning any 150th anniversaries of the campaigns in Mexico of c1865? . This would be in 2015? Anyway this is an interesting photo of Belgian Foreign Legion. The Battle of Tacámbaro

I reckon the first place to start researching this campaign is the Osprey The Mexican Adventure 1861-67 by Rene Chartrand and Richard Hook - two of the best contributors Osprey have.

Genie

French army engineers. Note the figures in the bottom row with cuirasses on.

Types of war in the Crimea

Mme Bru

I'm quite fascinated by images of Vivandieres and Cantinieres. Some of them look totally enchanting like this lady of the 7eme Husards in 1837. Note the tonnelet - small barrel - more images of these to come.

Another couple of French pictures

Showing the dress uniform worn with the shako which was rarely worn in combat as far as I know and the winter campaign look of the Crimeene coat, darkened gaiters and full beard.

Images of the French in the Crimea

Two contrasting pictures - one showing a parade captured in all its glory for the folks back home and below that is a photo of a group of French soldiers relaxing by Fenton.

The Alamo (1960) trailer

I have always been a fan of this movie - I saw it first at a very young age in a cinema and so it made a deep impression. Recently Tarantino has been saying good things about this movie, and used the famous soundtrack as part of his own. Good for him. Too much attention has been given to the questionable politics behind the movie masking the fact that it is a great Western with a fine cast, purty music and lots of laughs and quotable bits.